Sanity review delayed for woman accused of killing daughter

SANTA CRUZ - A mental health review was delayed Tuesday in the case of a 39-year-old Aptos woman charged with killing her 3-year-old daughter, a judge ruled.

Veva Virgil has been charged with smothering to death Isabella Grace Martinez in a Watsonville motel room in November 2008, prosecutors said.

San Francisco psychiatrist Jeffrey Gould is working on an evaluation of Virgil, and a progress report will be reviewed in court June 21, Judge Paul Burdick ruled.

Virgil has a history of mental health issues and she told police she was trying to save Isabella from the world by sending her to heaven. Virgil had been sober for several months but started using methamphetamine again about a month before Isabella was killed, police said.